City desk journalist Oscar Liu recounts his journey of challenges and successes as he managed to reduce his weight from 98kg last September to 78kg this January.
I recall the day in July from last year when the anticipation for my upcoming three-week adventure across Europe rose within me as I purchased a new pair of running shoes and slipped them on.
However, when I looked down, I couldn’t spot my new shoes. My stomach was obstructing my view.
A few weeks later in Spain, as I ascended a gradual slope in Toledo, it started feeling akin to climbing a mountain. My lungs were afire, my heartbeat thundered, and I had to pause for breath.
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I had to acknowledge that after making inconsistent efforts to stay fit for eight years, I ended up being overweight, consuming excessive food and neglecting my health.
I had reached 98 kg (216 lbs), which was my highest weight ever and 23 kg over the desirable weight of 75 kg for someone of my stature.
It provided little comfort knowing that I belonged to the majority in Hong Kong, where 54.6 percent of adults were classified as overweight or obese, based on the Department of Health’s 2020-2022 Population Health Survey.
Men seldom confess their insecurities about their physical appearance, yet this battle had defined my existence.
Sei fei jai
, which literally translates to “deadly fat boy” in Cantonese, was a label that dogged me practically from the day I was born a robust 4kg and through a childhood of hurtful comments and being teased and bullied about my size.
While in college and seeking a rapid solution, I discovered a physician who provided me with weight-loss medication that I used for about nine months.
They were effective, yet they consistently made me feel restless and anxious. To steer clear of these side effects, I discontinued their use, and subsequently, all the weight I had shed came back.
Driven by desperation, I fell into a harmful pattern of binging and purging, which became a hidden source of deep embarrassment and erosion of my self-esteem over many years. It took me over ten years to confide in even my nearest companions about this struggle.
Until 2016, my parents didn’t appear worried about their youngest child’s weight. But once they were both diagnosed with diabetes that year, they started pressing me to make changes.
That year, I started a new fitness adventure by joining a CrossFit gym and diving into weightlifting, gymnastics, and intense metabolic conditioning workouts with great enthusiasm.
My trainers functioned more as life coaches, giving me a solid base in fitness for the very first time in my life.
I tried out more nutritious food options and various dietary approaches. As a result, the weight came off, my clothing became less snug, and I started feeling a sense of pride in these transformations. It was quite rewarding.
However, this situation also unraveled. The firm I was with shut down, which left me jobless for a year. Under stress, I reverted to my exercise routines, and previously abandoned habits resurfaced.
The weight came back. I was still stuck on that disheartening carousel, which served as an ongoing reminder of my failures.
I surrendered in the fight against weight gain and tried to wear a smile, yet deep down, I wasn’t truly content.
Next was the vacation last summer in Spain, struggling to see my feet as I huffed and puffed up that hill in Toledo.
It was time to attempt once more.
After coming back from Europe, I discovered a new fitness coach, began hitting the gym thrice weekly, focused on nutrition, and meticulously tracked and recorded everything I consumed.
The guiding principle of my trainer was that health is a way of life, which implied that beyond working out and monitoring my diet, I needed to focus on getting quality sleep and handling stress effectively.
Having empathetic coworkers who brought takeout lunches and stayed with me for these nutritious meals in the newsroom was quite beneficial.
It wasn’t simple, yet I successfully reduced my weight from 98kg last September to 78kg in January, and since then, I’ve kept myself under my targeted weight of 83kg.
Friends, family members, and coworkers have been giving me praise for the transformation they’ve observed. They mention that I seem more vibrant as well.
When I take time away from work, I prefer engaging in physical pursuits like jogging and trekking rather than lounging at home munching on potato chips and cheese while binging shows on Netflix.
On some days, I catch myself pondering whether this could be the authentic version of me, permanently in place.
Nevertheless, I remain acutely conscious that the allure of delicious cuisine and fine wines persists constantly. Additionally, nowadays, there’s considerable excitement surrounding novel diabetes medications like Ozempic, which can lead to significant weight reduction.
They are promoted as an easy solution for those dealing with excess weight. However, I still remember the episodes of anxiety I experienced from taking diet pills during my college days.
Should I admit that my life has been transformed? In the past, I looked for instant solutions, valuing an altered look more than making lasting changes to my way of living.
My current priority is achieving enduring wellness and a feeling of mastery over my life.
However, acquiring genuine confidence remains an ongoing endeavor. Acknowledging these uncertainties makes me feel exposed, particularly since societal norms demand that men should be resilient, even though this challenge isn’t exclusive to one gender.
Body image and eating problems impact numerous individuals, both women and men, yet perhaps discussing these matters candidly is an essential stride toward self-acceptance and collective assistance.
The difference this time around is that I am dedicated to constructing a healthier, more self-compassionate version of myself.
Fingers crossed as I attempt to avoid getting on the roller coaster.
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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which is the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
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